Grapevine named &#39;IFG Twenty-three&#39;

ABSTRACT

This invention is a new and distinct grapevine variety denominated ‘IFG Twenty-three’. The new grapevine is characterized by producing naturally large seedless reddish black berries having a spherical shape with a mild fruity labrusca flavor somewhat similar to the Kyoho variety but smaller in size and seedless.

Latin name of the genus and species claimed: Vitis interspecific hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘IFG Twenty-three’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new and distinct grapevine described and claimed herein originatedfrom a hand pollinated cross of the 01032-067-202, an unnamed seedlingselection from the IFG breeding program, and the Arkansas 2798(non-patented, non-released interspecific selection) hybridized in May2006. The abortive seed traces were subsequently embryo cultured and theresulting population of plants was planted in the field in April 2007.The present variety of grapevine was selected as a single plant inOctober 2008 and was first asexually propagated by hardwood cuttings inDecember 2008 near Delano, Kern County, Calif. The resulting propaguleswere planted during April 2009 near Delano, Kern County, Calif. and werefound to reproduce true-to-type through at least two generations ofasexual reproduction.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new grapevine ‘IFG Twenty-three’ is characterized by producingnaturally large seedless reddish black berries having a spherical shapewith a mild fruity labrusca flavor somewhat similar to the Kyoho varietybut smaller in size and seedless. Fruits normally ripen mid to lateseason about early to mid-September near Delano Calif. Fruits are fairlylow in acidity, with medium dense firm texture, having occasionallynoticeable seed traces and may be difficult to color in hot climaticconditions. Berries may occasionally split at the stylar end. Attachmentof the berry to the pedicel is strong. Vines are productive and can bepruned to short spurs. The new grapevine differs from its maternalparent the 01032-067-202 by having dark red rather than light greenberries and by having a medium strong fruity labrusca type flavor asopposed to the neutral flavor of the 01032-067-202. ‘IFG Twenty-three’can be distinguished from its pollen parent, Arkansas 2798, by its darkreddish black color as opposed to full black color, by having roundberries as opposed to obovoid berries and by having a mild labruscaflavor rather than a strong labrusca flavor of the Arkansas 2798.

The interspecific nature of the vine is very evident. Vines are veryvigorous with a more horizontal growth habit and large leaves ascompared to typical varieties of the Vitis vinifera species.

Grape breeders have used several native American grape species toimprove hardiness, disease and insect resistance as well as incorporatearomatic flavors into the vinifera species. Previously introducedinterspecific varieties have had very limited commercial success due tosmall fruit size, large seed traces, slipskin texture or lack offirmness. The new grapevine variety ‘IFG Twenty-three’ is beingintroduced because of its unique combination of labrusca flavor combinedwith firm texture, seedlessness, good adhesion of skin and flesh andnaturally large berry size and its resemblance to the Kyoho grape.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying photographic drawing in FIG. 1 illustrates in fullcolor ‘IFG Twenty-three’. The photograph was taken outdoors withindirect lighting. The colors are as nearly true as is reasonablypossible in a color representation of this type. Mature leaves can beseen on the left side of the drawing. A mature fruit cluster isrepresented in the center of the drawing. A young shoot tip withtendrils and young leaves can be seen on the right side of the drawingalong with a typical berry and a berry in cross-section.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Throughout this specification, color names beginning with a small lettersignify that the name of that color, as used in common speech, is aptlydescriptive. Color names beginning with a capital letter designatevalues based upon R.H.S. Colour Chart, published in 2001 by The RoyalHorticultural Society, London, England.

Throughout this specification subjective description values conform tothose set forth by the International Plant Genetic Resources Institutepublication ‘Descriptors for Grape’ (vitis spp.) (1983) which wasdeveloped in collaboration with the Office International de la Vigne etdu Vin (OIN) and the International Union for the Protection of NewVarieties of Plants (UPOV).

The descriptive matter which follows pertains to ‘IFG Twenty-three’plants grown in the vicinity of Delano, Kern County, Calif. during 2014,and is believed to apply to plants of the variety grown under similarconditions of soil and climate elsewhere:

-   Vine:    -   -   General.—Vigor — Vigorous Density of foliage — Dense            Productivity — Productive, producing 17.5 to 26.2 kg of            fruit per vine Root stock — Own root Training method —            Typically spur pruned leaving 2 bud spurs.        -   Trunk.—Trunk diameter of 4-year-old vines at 30 cm above the            soil line — About 5.8 cm Shape — Somewhat stocky Straps —            Very long and continuous Surface texture — Medium rough            Inner bark color — The following colors were observed:            Greyed-orange: 165A and 200B and 200C.-   Shoots:    -   -   Young shoot.—Form of tip — Wide open Distribution of            anthocyanin coloration of tip — Piping (striped) Intensity            of anthocyanin coloration of tip — Weak Density of prostrate            hairs of tip — Dense Density of erect hairs of tip — Absent            Color — Yellow-green: 144A.        -   Woody shoot (mature canes).—Internode length — Medium, about            15.0 cm Width at node — About 1.7 cm Cross section —            Elliptic to narrow elliptic Surface — Striate Main color —            The following colors were observed: Greyed-orange: 166A and            166B and 166C and 166D Density of erect hairs on nodes —            Medium Density of erect hairs on internodes — Sparse to            medium Axillary shoot length at full bloom — Long,            approximately 24.9 cm.        -   Flowering shoot.—Vigor during flowering — Very strong            Attitude during flowering on shoots not tied — Drooping            Color — dorsal side of internodes — Yellow-green: 146C, with            Red-purple stripes: 59B Color — ventral side of internodes —            Yellow-green: 146C Color — dorsal side of nodes —            Yellow-green: 146C, with Red-purple stripes: 59B Color —            ventral side of nodes — Yellow-green: 146C Density of            prostrate hairs on nodes — Sparse Density of erect hairs on            nodes — Sparse Density of prostrate hairs on internode —            Sparse Density of erect hairs on internode — Very sparse            Anthocyanin coloration of buds — Present.        -   Tendrils.—Distribution on the shoot (at full flowering) —            Discontinuous Length of tendril — Very long, about 39.7 cm            Thickness of tendril 2 cm from base — About 3.2 mm Color —            Yellow-green: N144A. Tendrils exposed to the sun can also            have Red-purple stripes: 186A piped on the dorsal side of            the tendrils Form — Bifurcated and trifurcated Number of            consecutive tendrils — 2.-   Leaves:    -   -   Young leaves.—Color of upper surface of first four distal            unfolded leaves — Yellow-green: 144A Average intensity of            anthocyanin coloration of six distal leaves prior to            flowering — Absent Density of prostrate hairs between veins            (lower surface) — Dense Density of prostrate hairs on veins            (lower surface) — Sparse Density of erect hairs between            veins (lower surface) — Sparse Density of erect hairs on            veins (lower surface) — Dense.        -   Mature leaves.—Average length — About 14.4 cm Average width            — About 20.6 cm Mature leaf size — Large Shape of blade —            Wedge-shaped Number of lobes — 5 Blade venation — Palmate            Vein color — Yellow-green: 145C Anthocyanin coloration of            main veins on upper side of blade — Absent to very weak            Mature leaf profile — Undulate Blistering surface of blade            upper surface — Weak to medium Leaf blade tip — In the plane            of the leaf Undulation of margin — Medium Undulation of            blade between main and lateral veins — Overall Shape of            teeth — Mixture of both sides straight and both sides convex            Length of teeth — Short Ratio length/width of teeth — Medium            Shape of upper lateral sinuses — Lobes slightly overlapping            Depth of upper lateral sinuses — Shallow General shape            petiole sinus — Slightly open to closed Shape of base of            upper leaf sinuses — V-shaped Tooth at petiole sinus —            Occasionally present Density of prostrate hairs between            veins on lower surface of blade — Sparse Density of erect            hairs between veins on lower surface of blade — Sparse            Density of prostrate hairs on main veins on lower surface of            blade — Sparse Density of erect hairs on main veins on lower            surface of blade — Dense Density of prostrate hairs on main            veins on upper surface of blade — Sparse if Density of erect            hairs on main veins on upper surface of blade — Very sparse            Autumn coloration of leaves — Leaves can be a single color            or a combination of colors, in a mottled pattern or on the            edges of the leaves. The following colors were observed:            Greyed-purple: 187A and 187B, and N186A and N186B and N186C            and N186D, Greyed-orange: 34A and 34B, and Purple: N77A.        -   Upper surface.—Color — Yellow-green: 146A Anthocyanin            coloration of main veins — Absent to very weak Surface            appearance — Semi-glossy Blistering surface of blade — Weak            to medium.        -   Lower surface.—Color — Yellow-green: 147B Anthocyanin            coloration of main veins (lower surface) — Weak Glossiness —            Weak Surface texture — Rugose Surface appearance — Dull.        -   Petiole.—Length — About 11.2 cm Diameter of petiole 2 cm            from blade — About 4.0 mm Petiole color — The following            colors were observed: Yellow-green: 145B and 145C and            Red-purple: 59A Length of petiole compared to middle vein —            Slightly shorter Density of prostrate hairs on petiole —            Sparse Density of erect hairs on petiole — Dense.        -   Buds.—Bud fruitfulness — Basal: mostly fruitful Position of            first fruitful shoot on previous season cane — 1 ^(st) to            2^(nd) node Dormant bud length — About 8.1 mm Dormant bud            width in the proximal/distal plane — About 4 7 mm Dormant            bud color — Greyed-orange: 166A Time of bud burst —            Midseason; Mar. 8, 2014.-   Flowers:    -   -   General.—Flower sex — Hermaphrodite Length of first            inflorescence — Long, about 18.4 cm long by 8.6 cm wide            Position of first flowering and fruiting node — 3^(rd node)            (current season growth) Number of inflorescence per            flowering shoot — 2 to 3, about 2.1 Time of bloom — Early to            medium as compared with similar varieties in the growing            area of Delano, Calif. Date of full bloom — Apr. 25, 2014.-   Fruit:    -   -   General.—Ripening period — Late: approximately Sep. 16, 2014            Use — Fresh market Keeping quality — Medium, remains            commercially acceptable when stored up to 4 weeks at 0° C.            and high relative humidity Resistance to — Insects: Average            typical of Vitis vinifera species. Diseases: Average typical            of Vitis vinifera species. Refractometer test — Soluble            solids: about 18.6 Brix Brix/acid — About 56.4 Titratable            acidity — About 0.33 Juice pH — About 4.02.        -   Cluster.—Mature cluster length (peduncle excluded) — About            26.6 cm Mature cluster width — About 13.9 cm Mature cluster            weight — About 583 g Bunch density — Medium loose Number of            berries — About 113 Form — Conical.        -   Peduncle.—Lignification of peduncle — Weak Length of            peduncle — Long, approximately 7.9 cm.        -   Berry.—Uniformity of size — Uniform Single berry weight —            About 6.3 g natural to about 7.3 g when treated with            gibberellic acid Shape — Round Seeds — Contains small            rudimentary seed traces, seed traces occasionally noticeable            Cross-section — Circular Berry dimensions — Longitudinal            axis: about 2.3 cm. Horizontal axis: about 2.1 cm Berry            firmness — Firm Particular flavor — Labrusca Bloom            (cuticular wax) — Medium heavy Berry separation from pedicel            — Medium strong Flesh color — The following colors were            observed: Greyed-white: 156B and 156C Skin color (without            bloom) — The following colors were observed: Greyed-purple:            N186A and N186B and N186C.        -   Skin.—Thickness — Medium Skin toughness — Medium to thin;            not objectionable when chewing, may occasionally split at            the stylar end Reticulation — Absent Tenacity — Tenacious to            flesh.

What is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct variety of grapevine as hereinillustrated and described.